Two Broward County Court judges of Caribbean descent from Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit have received top honors at the 2025 Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, held this week in Bonita Springs.
County Court Judge Jackie Powell was elected Vice President of the Fourth District Court of Appeal (DCA), succeeding fellow 17th Circuit Judge Florence Taylor Barner. In this leadership role, Judge Powell will serve a one-year term on the Conference’s Executive Committee, which is dedicated to advancing the administration of justice and supporting continuing judicial education for County Court judges statewide.
“It’s an honor to be nominated and elected by my colleagues to serve in this capacity,” said Judge Powell. “I remain committed to maintaining the integrity of the judiciary.”
In addition, County Court Judge Tabitha B. Eves was named President-Elect of the Stephen R. Booher American Inn of Court, a prestigious organization focused on promoting professionalism, ethics, and legal excellence within the bench and bar.
Judge Eves said, “I am honored to be chosen as the president-elect of the Stephen R. Booher Inn of Court.I am humbled for the opportunity to continue to impart professionalism and mentorship to lawyers and law students. I am grateful to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors.”
Both judges are of Caribbean descent: Judge Powell was born in Jamaica and Judge Eves, in Trinidad.
Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips praised the judges for their achievements.
“On behalf of the 17th Judicial Circuit, we congratulate Judge Powell on her election as Vice President of the 4th DCA,” said Judge Phillips. “We also extend our congratulations to Judge Eves on her elevation to President-Elect of the Stephen R. Booher Inn of Court.”
Judges Powell and Eves joined hundreds of County Court judges from across the state for the annual conference, which ran from July 8–10 in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit is the court for Broward County, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
